1 26 Springs, Rivers, and the Sea. 



meeting in one common valley, and gam- 

 ing the plain ground, being grown less 

 rapid, become a river; and many of 

 these being united in one common chan- 

 nel, make such enormous streams as the 

 Rhine, the Rhone and the Danube. 

 And it may almost pass for a rule, that 

 the magnitude of a river, or the quantity 

 of water it discharges, is proportional to 

 the length and heights of these very 

 ridges from whence the fountains arise. 



The several sorts of springs observed 

 are common springs, which either run 

 continually, and then they are called 

 perennial springs ; or else run only for a 

 time, or at certain times of the year, and 

 then they are called temporary springs. 

 Intermitting springs, or such as flow 

 and then stop, and flow and stop again, 

 by regular alternations or intermissions, 

 Reciprocating springs, whose w r aters rise 

 and fall, or flow and ebb, by regular in- 

 tervals, or reciprocations of the surface. 



If those reservoirs of water in the bo- 

 dy of mountains be situated where min- 

 eral ores abound, or the ducts or feeding 

 streams run through mineral earth, it is 

 easy to conceive the particles of metal 



